give him/her a test tube, bulb aspirators, and a bottle of Schiff reagent 
(with the accompanying MSDS), and all necessary safety items (gloves, eye 
wear, lab coat).  have the nasaly impaired individual remove a small 
aliquot of the liquid from the specimen container, place it in the test 
tube, then using a clean pipette, aliquot a small amount Schiff reagent 
into the test tube  and gently mix --- a magenta/purple color change will 
indicate the presence of aldehydes, such as formaldehyde. dispose of the 
test solution (that solution in the test tube) according to local 
regulations.

rob

Robert S. Geske
Research Associate
Center for Comparative Medicine and Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine

-----Original Message-----
From:	Skelton, Michelle [SMTP:mskelton@anthc.org]
Sent:	Tuesday, September 14, 1999 12:15 PM
To:	'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
Subject:	formalin detection

Is there anything out there (aside from noses and eyes) to detect the
presence of formalin in a specimen container.  One of our pathologist has a
difficult time determining whether something was submitted in formalin or
saline.

Thanks in advance,
Michelle Skelton
Alaska Native Medical Center